Frequently Asked Questions about Software/Hardware Contracts

Microsoft Seat Based Licensing- Explanation of Pricing

Category: Licensing - Microsoft

	Explanation of Pricing Options

Select (Unbundled, Ala Carte) Pricing Option

MS Select Pricing Select pricing gives the customer an avenue to purchase select, (unbundled) MS products. This pricing option exists for all customers purchasing MS products such as license(s), maintenance, media, etc.

In the past, this was the only method that was used to purchase Microsoft software.

Seat Based (Bundled) Purchasing Options

For MS Network, MS Office and Windows Operating System

MS Seat Based Pricing - Seat Based (bundled) pricing gives the customer a guaranteed seat based price for platform and office software over the next four years. This pricing option includes an initial, then yearly price for years two, three and four. Any changes to either Operating System (OS) or MS Office software during the 4 years are included within the price. The following description and charts explain the pricing of each option.

Microsoft has given an incentive price to anyone that purchase under this agreement by October 31,
1998..

Note- When there is a purchase of a new computer with Windows it must come loaded with an OEM version of a Windows Operating System to take advantage of the Microsoft Upgrade Advantage (Maintenance) option. Consequently, one cannot install a Microsoft OS on a machine with Unix unless there is also a purchase of a license for MS OS.

In addition, when one selects to purchase under either Option 1 or Option 2, as described below, one must agree to pay for yearly maintenance, as appropriate, through the end of this four year agreement, beginning on the first anniversary and every year thereafter.

Option 1 - Microsoft Network Environment - Purchase products as a bundle on a per seat (desktop) basis including BackOffice Client software. This option includes: BackOffice Client software, platform (OS) and MS Office sotb,vare with yearly Microsoft Upgrade Advantage (Maintenance).

On computers that already have a version of a Microsoft Windows, the customer will be able to:

Upgrade and install the latest version.

Install an operating system with either Windows 95 or Windows 98 or Windows NT Workstation on any
desktop.

Choose MS Office or MS Office Professional (with Access) as the office software on any desktop.

Option 2 - MS Office only Environment - Purchase products as a bundle on a per seat (desktop) basis but the bundle does not including BackOffice Client software. This option includes platform (OS) and MS Office software with yearly Microsoft maintenance.

The customer will be able to:

Install an operating system with either Windows 95 or Windows 98 or Windows NT Workstation on any
desktop.

Choose MS Office or MS Office Professional (with Access) as the office software on any desktop.

http://edge-op.org/iowa/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/2000/PX02990.pdf

-- 
court documents in the case of Comes v. Microsoft.